Terminals for electric circuit and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Universal terminals suitable for connecting conductors through either crimping, soldering or slip on connector, or a combination of any of these.

United States Patent [191 Raitport et al.

[451 Aug. 21, 1973 TERMINALS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Eli Raitport, 1807 Mower St.,

Philadelphia, Pa. 19152; George D. Greenly, 121 Quigley Ave., Willow Grove, Pa. 19090 [22] Filed: Oct. 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 79,027

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/32 R, 339/256 SP, 339/258 S [51] Int. Cl. H01! 11/22, l-IOlr 27/00 [58] Field of Search 339/32, 33, 276, 339/275 B, 275 C, 278 C, 278 R, 258 R, 258 S, 258 F, 256 R, 256 SP, 252 S, 252 F; 24/129 1,255,037 1/1918 Oestricher 339/276 T X 2,981,926 4/1961 Boardman 339/256 SP 3,199,068 8/1965 Neenan 339/258 S X 1,536,338 5/1925 Glamzo 339/256 SP 3,048,812 8/1962 Heidler 339/252 S 1,798,812 3/1931 Rosenbeck 339/258 S 3,568,965 3/1971 Clark 24/129 B X 3,222,633 12/1965 Skony 339/258 S 3,546,664 12/1970 De Bolt et al. 339/276 F X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 952,531 3/1964 Great Britain 339/258 S 1,278,068 10/1961 France.... 339/258 S 1,579,511 7/1969 France.... 339/258 S 500,832 3/1954 Canada 339/258 S Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis [5 7] ABSTRACT Universal terminals suitable for connecting conductors through either crimping, soldering or slip on connector, or a combination of any of these.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUAUGZI I973 3.754.204

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l I a5 i as Invenfor:

TERMINALS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND APPARATUS The objective of this invention is to reduce the cost of switch wiring, improve the quality and safety of contacts, i.e. reduce amount of electrical resistance by eliminating or reducing probability for foreign matters; reduce or eliminate probability for loosensing contacts due to vibration.

Another objective of this invention is to facilitate future miniaturization of heavy duty switches.

On the attached drawings, FIGS. 1T through 6T represent new universal terminals which are able to hold the conductor by either crimping, soldering or slip-in terminals.

FIG. 1T defines the side elevation view of new type of unversal terminal.

FIG. 2T is the front elevation of the universal terminal.

FIGS. 3T and 4T, respectively represent the universal terminal with the wire-conductor crimped into it.

FIGS. ST and 6T respectively demonstrate side view and front view of the universal terminal with a slip-on connector.

81 is the contact portion of the terminal which may have an exotic material contact fastened to it. However, since 81 is curled and it receives the moving contact into embracing it from three sides with a spring pressure with relatively a large contact area, exotic contact material might not be needed; or plating only might be satisfactory.

In other cases those terminals might be used without curle 81. In such event, portion 88 would be the contact area with or without exotic material.

This portion 81 and 88 is located interiorly of a switch. 83 is the portion of the terminal from which the middle is parted to form the bulge 84. 83 is bulged also, however in the opposite direction from 84. Consequently bulges 83 and 84 together form something similar to a loop. (see FIG. 3T) Conductor 86 is placed into above loop, then bulges 83 and 84 could be squeezed with regular pliers (special tools are not necessary) and the conductor will undergo plastic deformation. The edges of bulge 84 and inner edges of bulges 83 will dig into the wire makeing a good, permanent connection. Spacing of 82 is just for tool clearance. Simultaneously, edges of bulges 84 and 83 would scrape the conductor at four points cleaning off any contamination and so assuring metal to metal contact without preparation work.

85 is the tail end of the terminal for use with conventional slide-on connector 87. The conductor 86 is conventionally fastened to the connector 87. Then the connector is slipped on the terminal tail 85. The connector then elastically deforms the bulge 83 pushing it back into line with tail 85. This produces a firm spring connection between the terminal and connector.

If desired the conductor could also be soldered. In that case, it would be placed between the bulges 83 and 84 similar to the above said in event of crimping is used without connectors. Then the conductor could be soldered to the bulges 83 and 84.

It is to be understood that subjected invention is not limited to above description. Many variations of mechanisms could be produced utilizing the same basic invention. Above descriptions are only examples of the almost umlimited applications for this invention.

We request a Letter of Patent to cover the following.

We claim:

1. A spade tenninal having one end and an opposite end, said one end having a pair of parallel slits extending longitudinally along the center of said terminal forming a spring strip and a pair of margins on opposing sides of said strip, said strip being bulged outwardly from the plane of said terminal and said margins being bulged outwardly from the plane of said terminal in a direction opposite from that of said strip thereby forming a loop and whereas said bulging of said margins are suitable to engage with a female spade connector.

2. A spade terminal as defined in claim 1, in which said opposite end is U-shaped to receive a mating terminal.

3. A spade terminal as defined in claim 2, in which said U-shaped end is curled outwardly and cantilevered from the main body off the axis of the main body of said terminal.

4. A spade terminal as defined in claim 3, in which legs of said U-shaped end are spring loaded; whereby said U-shaped end applies pressure to mating terminal from three sides and passage of current is distributed over the full area of said U-shape.

5. A spade terminal as defined in claim 1 whereas the said bulged portions are spring loaded and therefore elastically deform when fit into a conventional female spade connector, thereby generating a pressure between said terminal and said connector.

6. A spade terminal for connecting electrical leads formed with a U-shape on one end in combination with a mating terminal embraced by the legs of said U, whereas the opening of said U, which removably receives said mating terminal, is curled outwardly and cantilevered from main body of said terminal; and whereas said curled U is off axial position with main body of said terminal; and whereas said U is spring loaded, wherefore current passes into said mating terminal through both legs of said U shape and said U clamps with pressure said mating terminal.

a a i t 

1. A spade terminal having one end and an opposite end, said one end having a pair of parallel slits extending longitudinally along the center of said terminal forming a spring strip and a pair of margins on opposing sides of said strip, said strip being bulged outwardly from the plane of said terminal and said margins being bulged outwardly from the plane of said terminal in a direction opposite from that of said strip thereby forming a loop and whereas said bulging of said margins are suitable to engage with a female spade connector.
 2. A spade terminal as defined in claim 1, in which said opposite end is U-shaped to receive a mating terminal.
 3. A spade terminal as defined in claim 2, in which said U-shaped end is curled outwardly and cantilevered from the main body off the axis of the main body of said terminal.
 4. A spade terminal as defined in claim 3, in which legs of said U-shaped end are spring loaded; whereby said U-shaped end applies pressure to mating terminal from three sides and passage of current is distributed over the full area of said U-shape.
 5. A spade terminal as defined in claim 1 whereas the said bulged portions are spring loaded and therefore elastically deform when fit into a conventional female spade connector, thereby generating a pressure between said terminal and said connector.
 6. A spade terminal for connecting electrical leads formed with a U-shape on one end in combination with a mating terminal embraced by the legs of said U, whereas the opening of said U, which removably receives said mating terminal, is curled outwardly and cantilevered from main body of said terminal; and whereas said curled U is off axial position with main body of said terminal; and whereas said U is spring loaded, wherefore current passes into said mating terminal through both legs of said U shape and said U clamps with pressure said mating terminal. 